Story 2015-01-20 2WRR Tongan volcano creates new island

Tongan volcano creates new island

by
in science on (#2WRR)
story imageA Tongan volcano has created a substantial new island since it began erupting last month, spewing out huge volumes of rock and dense ash that has killed nearby vegetation. Tonga is almost 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) northeast of New Zealand. It lies on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire", where continental plates collide causing frequent volcanic and seismic activity.

The new island is more than one kilometer (0.6 mile) wide, two kilometers (1.2 miles) long and about 100 meters (328 feet) high. During observations the volcano was erupting about every five minutes to a height of about 400 meters (1,312 feet), accompanied by some large rocks...

The volcano rumbled to life on December 20 for the first time in five years, erupting from two vents, one on the uninhabited island of Hunga Ha'apai and the other underwater about 100 meters (328 feet) offshore. A number of international flights were cancelled earlier this week amid concerns about the volcano's ash plume but they resumed on Wednesday, with authorities saying debris from the eruption was not being thrown high into the atmosphere.
Reply 7 comments

International law on new volcanic islands? (Score: 2, Funny)

by billshooterofbul@pipedot.org on 2015-01-20 15:05 (#2WRZ)

Can I just plant a lava proof flag and claim the island as my own? The nation of BIllshooter can finally arise!

Re: International law on new volcanic islands? (Score: 1)

by insulatedkiwi@pipedot.org on 2015-01-20 16:02 (#2WS0)

I guess it depends on whether Tonga can claim it, since it's in their territorial waters..

Re: International law on new volcanic islands? (Score: 1)

by billshooterofbul@pipedot.org on 2015-01-20 18:16 (#2WS2)

Good point, I guess I know which government's officials I need to bribe "lobby".

Re: International law on new volcanic islands? (Score: 1, Interesting)

by Anonymous Coward on 2015-01-21 10:09 (#2WS8)

Be prepared to fight for it. This has been tried before.

Re: International law on new volcanic islands? (Score: 2, Funny)

by billshooterofbul@pipedot.org on 2015-01-22 14:36 (#2WSC)

Its only Tonga. I'm, sure they have a wonderful army/navy/marines/airforce. But Billshooter Nation has a fiercely loyal subject with no combat experience since kindergarten, no training, no weapons, the strength of 1/10 th of a normal man, and a budget of $10. So I think we're good.

Volcanic island (Score: 0)

by Anonymous Coward on 2015-01-20 23:36 (#2WS6)

An island created by a volcano located in the ring of fire can be found in the ring of fire?

Thanks for telling me, I wouldn't have worked that out!

Photo of new islands (Score: 1)

by evilviper@pipedot.org on 2015-01-29 02:35 (#2WT7)